Monthly Archives: November 2013

Mugwort Oil and Its Uses in Dreamwork and Magical Protection

Few herbs have had more uses in magic and ritual protection in European folklore than mugwort, a dark green shrub related to the famous absinthe wormwood. Best known as a dream herb used by shamans as a liquid dream pillow, mugwort essential oil has also been used to addess menstrual complaints, ease pain and inflammation, and treat parasites [1]. Like many bitter herbs, fresh mugwort leaves are thought to stimulate digestion, and feature in Korean and Japanese cuisine, where they may be added fresh to salads or used to flavor mochi, sweet rice cakes. However, mugwort’s possibilities go far beyond its use as a garnish.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a tall, herbaceous perennial native to temperate Europe, North Africa, Asia and parts of Alaska. Its feathery dark green leaves are coated with silver hairs underneath, and it has yellow or dark red flowers. Throughout Europe, mugwort has been deeply connected to magical protection, dreamwork, and divination. Scholars believe that the name “mugwort” may be a reference to its use as a flavoring additive in beer before Bavarian purity laws stipulated that only hops could be used for this purpose. Alternatively, the word may be from the Old English mugc, meaning moth, because it was believed that mugwort repelled moths and other insects.

Mugwort was an essential traveler’s herb: keeping some of the leaves in a sachet was believed to offer protection from wild beasts and spirit possession, as well as prevent sunstroke and exhaustion [4]. Roman soldiers used to place mugwort leaves inside their sandals to keep their feet from getting tired during long marches [2]. Besides being used as a flavoring for beer, in England mugwort herbage was also a main ingredient in the stuffing for roast goose. During World War II when tea reached 7 shillings per pound, mugwort leaves became a popular tea substitute in the region of Cornwall.

Mugwort is used to flavor Japanese sweets, such as these green mochi with red bean filling.

Medicinally, mugwort essential oil has gastric stimulant, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory and emmenagogue properties [1]; it is especially effective at soothing monthly menstrual pain and encouraging menstrual flow. In moxibustion, a type of traditional Chinese medicine, a cone of mugwort leaves is heated and placed on affected areas of the body for ailments such as rheumatism, lack of appetite, to expel parasites, and to induce sweating in order to break a fever [3].

Today, mugwort is known as an exemplary dream herb: the leaves may be taken as a tea or placed under the pillow to enhance dream recall [4]. Similarly, mugwort essential oil may be diffused into a bedroom or diluted and used as a pillow spray in dreamwork. Due to its thujone content, mugwort oil should always be used sparingly in dilution, and should never be taken internally. A few drops of a mugwort oil blend in a diffuser or room spray are all it takes to induce vivid, memorable dreams that can be recalled upon waking.

REFERENCES

1. “Health Benefits of Mugwort Essential Oil”. Organic Facts. Accessed May 8th, 2014. http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-mugwort-essential-oil.html.

2. Wright, Colin (ed.). 2002. Artemisia. London, New York: Taylor & Francis.

3. “Mugwort Leaf (ai ye)”. Acupuncture Today: The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine News Source. Accessed May 8th, 2014. http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral/mugwort_leaf.php.

4. “Mugwort: Artemisia vulgaris“. Annie’s Remedy: Essential Oils and Herbs. Accessed May 8th, 2014. http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail106.php.

How to Make Essential Oils From Scratch at Home

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Essential oils are one of the most concentrated therapeutic agents available in complementary and alternative medicine, and for aromatherapy it is usually best to buy therapeutic-grade, professionally produced essential oils. However, if you want to obtain essential oils for non-therapeutic uses without breaking the bank, you can easily learn how to make essential oils from scratch at home. While some plant materials require special equipment and processing, others can be steam distilled in your own kitchen. The great benefit of learning how to make essential oils from scratch at home is that it allows you to affordably produce larger batches of oils for use in crafts like soap and candle making, as well as blending your own perfumes. Read on to learn the basics of making essential oils at home.

What is an Essential Oil? An essential oil is a concentrate of the volatile compounds found in aromatic plants. These compounds can easily transition from one phase state to another; in this case, from a liquid to a gas when heat is applied to the raw plant material. Steam distillation uses steam to vaporize these volatile compounds and liberate them from the plant material as a gas. This vapor is then cooled, separated from the water vapor that is also distilled from the plant material, and piped into a condenser where it reforms into a pure essential oil.

Distilling Essential Oils at Home

Purchase or build a steam distiller: You handy types out there can find many instructional sites on how to build a steam distiller. Alternatively, you can purchase a distiller: models start at about $200, affordable if you plan on making a lot of essential oils. The crucial elements of any distiller are a large pot with a grated compartment or perforated shelf, like a vegetable steamer; a condenser to collect and cool the steam produced by distillation; and a separator or essencier, which passively separates the oil and water distillate (called a hydrosol) into different containers.

Harvest or buy raw material: If you can, it’s best to harvest your own plant material, as it will be fresher and you’ll have a better idea of its quality. Research the harvesting instructions for the type of plant oil you want to distill, so that you know what part of the plant to harvest for its oil; many species have an optimal season for harvesting, and the time of day may also make a difference. If you’re buying plant material for distillation, look for undamaged whole plant parts (never powdered) and, if possible, ask the seller when they were harvested.

Dry your plant material: It’s usually advisable to dry plants out of direct sunlight, although some species such as lavender and peppermint are dried in the field after being cut. In any case, don’t over dry your plants—make sure they’re still supple rather than brittle—and don’t get them wet once they’ve dried. Steam distill your material as soon as possible after drying.

Add water to the reservoir of your steam distiller: Use soft, clean water and make sure there’s enough for the length of the distillation you want to do. This will depend on the amount and type of plant material you’re distilling; some types of raw material can take up to 6 hours to distill. Place your dried raw material onto the grate or false bottom of the reservoir above the water, making sure the material doesn’t touch the sides of the still. There should also be at least 1 inch between the plant material and the water level.

Set the water boiling and close the lid of the still: Keep an eye on your still to make sure the distillate keeps condensing and flowing through the tubes; at some point you may need to add more water to the condenser to continue the cooling process. Once the distillation is finished, you can filter your essential oil through cheesecloth to remove any plant residues if you wish.

Place your finished oil into a container: Use a dark glass or stainless steel container with an airtight lid to store your finished essential oil. Steam distillation also produces a hydrosol, or aromatic water; you can use this on its own as a fragrance, discard it, or return it to the reservoir if you plan to make another batch of oil immediately.

Things to remember: Essential oil yields vary widely from plant to plant, and in all cases you will need a lot of raw material to produce just a few ounces of essential oil. If you’re planning on frequently distilling essential oils, it may make sense to invest in a large distiller (40 liters or so) and make larger batches at a time. Also, the materials in your distiller count: it’s best to use stainless steel elements and glass—never plastic—tubing, since these materials are nonreactive. Copper pots can also work with many plant materials but may react with some to produce impurities; this can be fixed by buying a bronze pot (copper alloyed with tin) instead. Aluminum pots are fine for distilling many essential oils but may react with plants that contain phenols, such as clove and wintergreen, so it’s important to know the composition of your plants before you start.

Finally, remember that essential oils are often found in fragile parts of the plant such as the hairs, veins, and glands. Be careful not to break these if you’re harvesting your own plants, and handle the harvested material as little as possible before distilling it. You’ll end up with a higher yield of essential oils for all your hard effort.

Sweet Orange Oil as an Immune Stimulant and Nerve Tonic

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One of the most celebrated fruits in the world, sweet oranges account for up to 70% of all citrus species cultivated today. Sweet orange essential oil is also one of the most versatile essential oils, with an extensive list of household and medicinal uses. Produced as a byproduct of pressing orange juice, sweet orange essential oil can be used as a household detergent (especially on treated wood), hand cleanser, fragrance, and in aromatherapy. Sweet orange oil is a yellow-orange to dark orange mobile liquid with an unmistakable sweet citrusy fragrance. It blends well with lavender, myrrh, other citrus oils such as lemon and neroli, and spice oils such as clove, cinnamon and nutmeg.

The sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) is likely a hyrbid of the tangerine and pomelo, two other citrus species. Native probably to Southeast or East Asia, the sweet orange tree is a small evergreen with white flowers; the round fruit has a bright to dark orange peel. Orange cultivation may date as far back as 2500 BC in China, and there are now many varieties of orange and orange hybrid, including the blood orange, tangelo, bitter orange, navel, and Valencia orange. While historians believe the bitter orange was known in Southern Europe since the Crusades of the 1100s—where it was used for medicinal purposes—the sweet orange did not arrive in Europe until the late 15^th or 16^th century, through trade with the Middle East. Sweet oranges were considered a luxury item in the 1500s, and rich nobles would grow them in greenhouses called orangeries. Spanish colonists later brought the first oranges to the New World via Hispañiola and other Caribbean islands. Today, Brazil, California and Florida produce the most oranges for the worldwide produce market [1].

The simplest way to use oranges is simply to eat them fresh! People also love squeezing orange pulp to make juice, as well as grating the rind—called the zest—to flavor baked goods, liqueurs and savory dishes. In the centuries before refrigeration, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch sailors planted orange groves along their trade routes so they could harvest the vitamin C-rich fruits as a defense against scurvy. Even today, in situations where the nutritional value of food must be maximized while generating a minimum of food waste, oranges play a crucial role: though not as tasty as the pulp, submarine crews will often eat orange peels on long voyages [1].

The uses of sweet orange essential oil are almost as various as the uses of the fresh fruit. As a cleanser, sweet orange oil can be added to water and used to wash down surfaces such as kitchen and bathroom counters, sinks, and toilets, where it acts as a strong natural antiseptic [2]. Adding a small bit of orange oil or lemon oil to a wooden counter or cutting board can also revitalize wood that has been stained with food, ink or coffee residues.

Medicinally, sweet orange essential oil has both mild stimulant and sedative qualities on different organ systems: inhaled or applied via massage, it can boost sluggish digestion and be helpful in combating indigestion, flatulence, or lack of appetite, and may also stimulate the lymphatic system [3]. Conversely, sweet orange oil may also act as a mild nerve sedative, promoting calmness while also lifting the mood [4]. It has noted benefits for the skin because it supports the formation of collagen, the connective tissue within cells, and can also help the body get rid of excess fluid by acting as a mild diuretic [4]. Besides its direct antiseptic action on infections such as the common cold, sweet orange oil helps stimulate the immune system to stave off opportunistic illnesses [5].

If you choose to work with sweet orange essential oil in a massage blend, be sure to wait at least 24 hours before exposing treated skin to sunlight to prevent a possible photosensitizing reaction. Or simply diffuse the fruity, refreshing scent of orange oil into your living room or bathroom to perk up the senses and energize the mind with every breath.

REFERENCES

1. “Orange (fruit)”. Wikipedia. Accessed May 13th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(fruit).

2. Dabbah, Roger, VM Edwards and WA Moats. 1970. “Anti-microbial action of citrus fruit oils on selected food-borne bacteria.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology 19 (1): 27-31.

3. Morton, Julia F. 1987. “Orange: Medicinal Uses” In: Fruits of Warm Climates pp 134-142. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/orange.html#Food%20Uses.

4. “Health Benefits of Orange Essential Oil.” Organic Facts. Accessed May 13th, 2014. http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/orange-essential-oil.html.

5. “Sweet Orange Essential Oil Uses”. Naturally Healthy Families. Last modified October 11th, 2011. https://naturallyhealthyfamilies.wordpress.com/tag/sweet-orange-essential-oil-uses/.

Myrtle Oil and Its Uses in Mediterranean Herbalism and Folklore

Hyssop Oil and Its Ancient Use in Ritual Purification

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The warming, slightly camphoraceous scent of hyssop oil has been associated with rites of purification, cleansing and sanctification since Biblical times. In aromatherapy, hyssop essential oil has antiseptic, expectorant, and cough suppressant properties [1], and is often included in diffusion blends to chase away winter colds, sinus congestion, and feelings of melancholy. Hyssop essential oil is a colorless to pale yellow-green liquid that blend well with other herbaceous and floral oils such as angelica, clary sage, geranium, melissa, and rosemary.

Hyssopus officinalis is a shrub native to the Middle East, Southern Europe, and Eastern Europe in the region around the Caspian Sea. It has lance-shaped leaves and produces bundles of blue, pink or white flowers during the summer. Hyssop was known to the Greeks in Classical Antiquity, and some scholars have suggested the word hyssop derives from the related Hebrew word esov or esob, which refers to a plant used in the Old Testament to purify temples and other sacred places. Hyssop also appears in the Bible as a treatment for leprosy. However, some scholars have argued that the hyssop of the Bible is actually a kind of thyme or marjoram, two other aromatic plants with similar antiseptic and cleansing properties.

Whatever the ancient truth, hyssop remained popular as a strewing herb in medieval European churches because it drove away fleas, which carried plague, as well as lice and other pests. Inspired by this use, some Roman Catholic sects still interpret Hyssopus officinalis as the hyssop of the Bible and use the flowers and leaves to scent the water used in purifying rituals called aspersions[1].

Fresh hyssop herb is also used in cooking, although sparingly because it has a strong minty taste with a slightly bitter edge due to the presence of tannins. Along with coriander seed, hyssop leaves are also a part of the complex and closely guarded recipe for Chartreuse liqueur, which makes use of over one hundred different aromatic plants! Bee keepers also sometimes raise bees on hyssop nectar to produce a richly aromatic honey [1].

As a medicine, hyssop essential oil may be diffused to ease respiratory complaints such as congestion, cough, and asthma [2]; it is currently listed in the British Pharmacopoeia for addressing colds and bronchitis [2]. In a massage, hyssop oil acts as a circulatory stimulant, making it helpful for reducing menstrual discomfort, healing bruises and sores, and managing the pain of rheumatism [3]. The oil may also ease digestive complaints when applied to the abdomen [2].

Hyssop essential oil should be avoided during pregnancy, and should not be given to children or people with epilepsy, kidney or liver disease [4], or high blood pressure [2], as hyssop oil can induce a mild increase in blood pressure. Use hyssop essential oil in dilution on the skin, or simply inhale the oil from a diffuser to quickly access its gentle, clarifying benefits.

REFERENCES

1. “Hyssopus officinalis“. Wikipedia. Accessed May 10th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyssopus_officinalis.

2. Lawless, Julia. 2013. “Hyssopus officinalis” In: The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatic Oils in Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health, and Well-Being. Conari Press.

3 Grieve, M. “A Modern Herbal: Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)” Accessed May 14th, 2014. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hyssop48.html.

4. Millet Y, P Tognetti, M Lavaire-Perlovisi et al. 1979. “Experimental study of the toxic convulsant properties of commercial preparations of essences of sage and hyssop.” Rev. Electroencephalogr. Neurophysiol. Clin. 9: 8-12.